Spices help add flavor to our foods while cutting back on the amount of sodium/salt in our foods.  Here are a few substitutions to try when adding flavor to many of your favorite foods.

#1 Cumin

Cumin is traditionally used in Mexican dishes.  This spice comes from the Mediterranean region, which means it pairs well with many Italian, Spanish, and Greek dishes.

#2  Hot Curry

Curry comes in a variety of spice mixtures.  Regions incorporate a mix of different spices like turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, and cayenne powders to create a curry blend.  Hot curry blends can add spice to grilled chicken, baked summer squash, or pasta.

#3 Nutmeg

Nutmeg is known for adding spice to many sweet dishes.  However, it is a great addition to many savory dishes as well.    Try it mixed in a baked cauliflower recipe or add it a fillet of fish.  A little goes a long way with this spice; start with 1/8 teaspoon in your dish.

Just a reminder: Start with a small amount of a spice and only increase the amount of spice you add to a dish by 1 1/2 times.   Try starting with 1/4 teaspoon for most ground spices.  You might start with less if you are adding in a hot or strong spice like cayenne, red chili peppers, cloves, nutmeg, or peppercorns!